'Way you reinvented yourself to adapt is an inspiration': Tendulkar shares special message for retiring Ross Taylor
Sachin, who featured in 24 international matches against Taylor - 16 Tests and eight ODIs, hailed the 38-year-old as a “great ambassador of the game.”
New Zealand great Ross Taylor on Monday drew curtains on his 16-year-long international career after he played his final game in Hamilton in the third ODI match of the series against Netherlands. And moments after New Zealand handed him a perfect farewell gift with a series whitewash, Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter to share a heartfelt note for the New Zealand great.
Sachin, who featured in 24 international matches against Taylor - 16 Tests and eight ODIs, hailed the 38-year-old as a “great ambassador of the game.”
"You’ve been a great ambassador of the game Ross! It was wonderful playing against you. The way you reinvented yourself over the years to adapt is an inspiration for all the young kids aspiring to be cricketers. Heartiest congratulations on a fabulous career," he tweeted.
WATCH: Ross Taylor bids emotional goodbye to cricket, receives guard of honour; Kohli, Dravid extend wishes
Taylor took the wining catch in his final international game as New Zealand beat Netherlands by 115 runs at the Seddon Park on Monday to complete a 3-0 whitewash. It was New Zealand's sixth consecutive win in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League as they jumped to the eighth spot in the 13-team points table. Meanwhile, Taylor scored 14 off 16 in the match before being dismissed caught and bowled by Logan van Beek.
Taylor ended his career as New Zealand's most prolific run-getter across formats - 18,199 runs at an impressive average of 42.72. He featured in 112 Tests, 236 ODIs, and 102 T20Is for the country which makes the only cricketer to have featured in at least 100 matches in each of the formats for a country in world cricket.
"To my team mates it has been pleasure, thoroughly enjoyed my time and I will be watching how you guys grow from the other side. You are in good stead and I will miss you boys. There's no bigger place to say thank you to my wife, mum and dad, all the family members, coaches for all the sacrifices they have put in. It has been a long 16 years and thank you for everything. Hamilton, thank you for coming out and I couldn't have asked for a better place to play my last game," he said at the post-match presentation where he was given a special gift by Martin Snedden, the New Zealand Cricket chief at his felicitation ceremony.